Asian Blepharoplasty in New York: Asian Eyelid Surgery NYC

It is important to avoid anything that thins the blood for two weeks prior to surgery. Maximizing skin “fitness” prior to surgery, using an at-home regimen that usually incorporates a retinol or Retin-A, is encouraged. In certain cases, other preoperative treatments (chemical peel, Fraxel, or laser) may be recommended to enhance the postoperative results (akin to “priming the canvas”). Routine blood tests are obtained, and medical clearance is organized as necessary. At your initial consultation with Dr. Kolker in his office in NYC, facelift instructions are given, and are reviewed with you in great detail at a preoperative visit two weeks prior to surgery. Prescriptions are given at this visit, and any outstanding questions can be answered.

Asian patients tend to swell to a greater extent compared with Caucasian patients. Therefore, even though the sutures will be removed within 5 days following surgery, the eyelid swelling may take several weeks to months before the eyelid swelling subsides. Initially the eyelid crease may appear “too” high or deep but over several months this “high” crease will settle downward as the eyelid swelling subsides and the skin above the crease drapes downward. This can be a period of great anxiety and stress because the eyelid may not initially look like what the patient envisioned. However with time and patience the eyelid swelling will subside and the desired eyelid height and contour will become apparent. Anticipating this “normal” prolonged period of swelling and recuperation will help to lower your anxiety. Dr. Kopelman and his staff will be available to answer all your questions. Ultimately you will see that the surgery was performed according to your expectations and the outcome will be pleasing.

Patients who have pockets of fat can be reduced through an incision placed on the inside of their lower eyelids. This allows the fat to be redraped downward without creating a visible scar on the outside of the lower eyelid. A skin incision is unnecessary because unlike Caucasian patients, Asian lower eyelid skin usually do not show the same advanced degrees of sun damage therefore it is unnecessary in most cases to remove or tighten lower eyelid skin. Rarely there is an extra fold of skin that pushes

Asian eyelid Surgery differs internally in several ways from Caucasian eyelid surgery. If we compare a sagittal diagram between a typical Asian and Caucasian eyelid we can see that an Asian eyelid anatomically has a lower point of fusion of the orbital septum which allows the preseptal fat to descend to a lower level. These two anatomic differences create a fuller appearance to the upper eyelid, and a lower or absent eyelid crease in the Asian population. When doing surgery on asian eyelids these features distinguish the external appearance of their external anatomy from Caucasian external eyelids. In addition, there are fewer or sometimes absent interdigitations of the levator aponeurosis which accounts for an absent or less distinct eyelid crease found amongst Asian people.

Drooped eyelids are sometimes difficult to determine prior to surgery because the excess of overlying skin and compensatory upward contraction of the eyebrow may mask the pre-existing underlying droop of the eyelid. If eyelid ptosis (droop) is not noted in advance of “double eyelid” surgery then it will become apparent following surgery. Dr. Kopelman is excellent when it comes to doing Asian eyelid surgery and will correct the drooped lid position at the time of the double–eyelid procedure or following the double lid procedure.